On Tuesday (October 31), the council's cabinet committee agreed SCC leader, Councillor David Hodge, should write to government ministers, including Runnymede and Weybridge MP Philip Hammond , to say the scheme should be nationally funded.

Although yet to be confirmed, it is estimated SCC will be asked to pay around £103m towards the scheme.

Other Surrey councils will also be asked to foot the bill based on the percentage of the properties in their borough which will benefit from it - around £81m for Runnymede , £21m for Spelthorne and £1m for Elmbridge .

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Surrey floods 2013-14

The £588m scheme aims to minimise the risk of flooding for around 15,000 homes. It is estimated that it will cost £588m in total but that there will be a £257m funding gap.

In a report put together before the meeting, officers acknowledged that "if this funding gap is not met then there is a high chance that the scheme will be significantly reduced in scope or withdrawn altogether".

If the government do not agree to provide additional funding, the council is considering the controversial option of raising the money through a levy or a council tax precept.

The council had said that £3.1m to £9.3m could be raised by applying a council tax increase of 0.5% to 1.5% - the latter would represent an additional annual cost of £19.02 a year for a band D property.

'Can't afford a penny'

Presenting the report at the cabinet meeting, Councillor Colin Kemp said the issue of flooding "affects the whole of Surrey" and is "really important" for the county's residents.

"Recent years have shown us that flash floods can affect anywhere, not only if you live by a river," he said.

Following the meeting, Cllr Hodge will write to Philip Hammond, as well as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid and the Secretary of State for Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Surrey Heath MP Michael Gove .

Cllr Hodge told the meeting: "People have worked extraordinarily hard to buy a house in Surrey.

"It doesn't matter who you are, flooding will come and get you when it wants to, the reality is we need to do the River Thames Scheme."

Surrey Heath Councillor Mike Goodman said that he had raised the issue with Mr Gove, who agreed to discuss the matter with the Chancellor.

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